gns.thedruidconnection-第8章

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patch　of　cloud　scudded　across　the　face　of　the　moon　as　though　the　heavens　feared　to　look　down　upon　this　place。　Kent　was　close　to　Sabat　as　they　awaited　the　re…emergence　of　the　moon。
　　
　　Slowly；　reluctantly；　the　pale　silvery　light　flooded　the　scene　again；　showed　rows　of　untended　graves；　the　grass　roughly　mown　between　them　in　a　maze　of　pathways。　A　forgotten　place　where　people　feared　to　tread。
　　
　　The　smoke　was　thicker；　more　pungent　now；　making　their　eyes　smart。　Sabat　coughed；　pointed　across　to　the　far　corner　of　the　cemetery；　a　section　that　was　hidden　in　the　shadows　cast　by　a　clump　of　towering　yew　trees。　'That's　where　the　smoke's　ing　from；'　he　whispered。　'Let's　make　our　way　across　there。'
　　
　　The　grass　beneath　their　feet　was　springy；　their　progress　silent。　Moving　slowly；　trying　to　scan　every　patch　of　shadow　around　them　through　eyes　streaming　from　the　smoke；　making　it　impossible　to　see　anything。　Which　was　why　they　were　within　three　or　four　yards　of　the　figure　beneath　the　foremost　yew　tree　before　they　saw　it！
　　
　　'Jesus　wept！'　Kent　clutched　Sabat's　arm；　instinctively　trying　to　tug　him　back。　'What　the　fuck　is　it？'
　　
　　Sabat　felt　his　body　tense；　go　cold　as　an　icy　trickle　ran　up　his　spine　and　spread　out　into　his　scalp。　He　strained　his　smarting　eyes；　made　out　the　shape　of　a　woman　in　long　tattered　robes。　At　least　he　thought　it　was　a　woman。　。　。　。
　　
　　Small　and　frail；　almost　childlike；　barely　five　feet　tall。　Long　matted　hair　that　straggled　down　over　revolting　bulb　like　breasts；　cancerous　growths　protruding　from　vents　in　the　soiled　garments。　Barefoot；　toenails　broken　and　curling　over　like　the　talons　of　some　horrific　bird　of　prey。　Skeletal　waste　arms；　shaking　finger　pointed　accusingly　at　the　intruders　in　this　place　of　silence　and　death。　An　eddy　of　smoke　hid　her　for　a　few　seconds　as　though　it　sought　to　spare　these　two　humans　from　a　sane　world　the　sight　of　this　revolting　creature。
　　
　　And　when　the　smoke　had　cleared；　Sabat　and　Kent　saw　that　she　had　stepped　forward　out　of　the　shadows　into　a　patch　of　moonlight　where　every　detail　of　her　grotesque　face　was　displayed。
　　
　　'Jesus　God；　it　isn't　possible！'　Kent　stepped　back　instinctively；　dragging　Sabat　with　him。
　　
　　A　noise；　a　cackle　of　manic　laughter　broke　the　stillness。　This　creature　from　the　shadows　in　human　form　was　manding　them　to　look　upon　her；　to　feast　their　eyes　upon　the　rotting　flesh　on　her　body；　to　breathe　in　the　stench　of　putrefaction　which　even　the　billowing　smoke　could　not　mask。　Eye　sockets；　nothing　more；　but　she　seemed　to　see　out　of　the　sunken　cavities；　tiny　black　pits　of　hate　directed　at　the　two　men。　Twin　nostrils　that　bubbled　mucus；　a　toothless　mouth…slit　widening　into　a　grimace。　A　thing　that　had　e　from　beyond　the　grave！
　　
　　Sabat　sensed　the　power　emanating　from　this　macabre　living　entity；　a　force　that　hit　him　with　sheer　psychic　power　like　that　icy　wind　getting　up　again　and　bringing　with　it　stifling　acrid　smoke　that　had　him　instinctively　throwing　up　his　hands　to　ward　it　off。
　　
　　'Sabat；　you　came　here　at　your　own　peril　and　those　who　trespass　in　the　domain　of　the　Oke　Priests　must　pay　the　penalty。　You　shall　not　leave　here！　I　e　to　take　you　with　me　to　the　Lupercal　Cave！'
　　
　　Rasping　tones　that　scraped　on　Mark　Sabat's　bemused　brain　with　a　stupefying　effect。　A　muzziness　that　was　beginning　to　cloud　his　thinking；　numbing　his　fear。　A　surrendering　of　his　willpower　that　was　only　saved　by　his　panion；　Kent　the　journalist；　the　atheist。
　　
　　'It's　some　kind　of　trick！'　Kent's　scream　was　bordering　on　hysteria。　'That　old　bag's　dressed　up　to　scare　the　hell　out　of　us。　Get　her；　Sabat！　Teach　the　bitch　a　lesson！'
　　
　　The　grotesque　apparition　checked；　recoiled　as　though　she　had　been　struck　a　physical　blow；　the　mouth　widening　into　an　expression　of　shock　and　terror。　And　in　that　same　instant　Sabat　felt　his　inner　mechanism　click　back　into　gear　like　a　car　that　has　faltered　and　then　picked　up　to　full　speed。　One　moment　he　was　on　the　defensive；　now　he　was　on　the　offensive。
　　
　　Even　as　he　leaped　forward　that　acrid　smoke　billowed　and　came　to　the　aid　of　the　unknown　wretched　figure；　taking　him　full　in　the　face；　forcing　him　to　turn　aside　and　gasp　for　fresh　air。　Kent　ducked；　came　up　beneath　the　putrid　fumes；　pushed　his　way　forward。
　　
　　The　Grotesque　screamed　as　she　turned　to　flee；　a　yell　that　was　scarcely　human；　but　even　as　he　leaped　in　pursuit　the　thought　crossed　Sabat's　mind　that　it　was　not　the　despairing　fear…stricken　cry　that　they　had　heard　a　few　minutes　earlier。　Was　there　another　monstrosity　within　the　bounds　of　this　awful　cemetery？
　　
　　The　chase　was　on；　an　eerie　flitting　figure　dodging　between　the　headstones；　whirling　and　leaping　with　unbelievable　agility　for　one　so　ancient。　Their　instinctive　SAS　training　had　caused　the　two　men　to　split　up；　a　two…pronged　pursuit　which　would　surely　corner　this　smoke　witch　before　long。　She　ran；　hesitated　by　a　gap　in　the　hedge；　then　burst　through　it　into　the　adjoining　rough　field。　And　as　if　the　moon　had　already　decreed　that　she　should　not　escape；　it　came　out　from　the　clouds　yet　again　and　shone　down　with　all　the　brightness　it　could　muster；　illuminating　the　scene；　creating　weird　shadows。
　　
　　On　she　ran；　skipping　with　a　lightness　that　kept　her　ten　yards　ahead　of　the　two　men；　a　direct　line　to　where　there　was　yet　another　gap　in　the　straggling　hawthorn　hedge。　Freedom　beckoned　her；　a　footpath　that　would　have　taken　her　to　the　safety　of　the　woods。　Then　she　screamed　again；　a　cry　of　physical　and　mental　agony；　staggering　back　as　though　some　invisible　barrier　had　not　only　barred　her　progress　but　burned　her　flesh。
　　
　　'She　can't　leave　this　place！'　Sabat　called　out　to　Kent。　'She　can　only　survive　within　its　boundaries。　Keep　after　her；　we'll　run　her　down。'
　　
　　Like　a　woodland　nymph　she　was　fleeing　again；　this　time　following　the　course　of　the　perimeter　hedge　but　keeping　a　yard　or　so　from　it　as　though　she　feared　its　powers。　Kent　was　following　on　her　heels；　Sabat　embarking　upon　a　diagonal　course；　trying　to　cut　her　off。　Surely　they　must　corner　her　before　long。
　　
　　Then　came　the　smoke　again；　thicker　and　more　acrid　than　ever；　a　dense　suffocating　fog　that　shut　out　the　moonlight；　reducing　everything　to　a　grey　gloom；　a　place　of　silhouettes　and　unearthly　shapes。　Sabat　coughed；　ducked　and　drew　in　fresh　air；　held　his　breath。　The　fire　must　be　in　this　field　and　not　in　the　cemetery；　a　pile　of　dead　vegetation　left　to　smoulder　by　some　agricultural　worker。　The　fugitive　might　escape　beneath　its　cover　and　。　。　。
　　
　　He　pulled　up；　found　himself　wondering　where　Kent　had　got　to。　It　was　as　though　Sabat　had　stepped　into　a　strange　land　in　no　way　connected　with　a　rural　village。　A　fringe　of　trees　formed　a　space　that　might　have　been　a　forest　clearing　except　that　it　was　impossible　to　discern　one's　surroundings　clearly　because　the　smoke　was　gushing　forth　from　a　huge　rectangular　pile　of　what　appeared　to　be　lumps　of　turf　or　maybe　peat。　And　on　top　of　this；　defiant；　arms　and　face　raised　to　the　heavens　beyond　the　smoke　clouds；　stood　the　one　whom　they　had　been　pursuing。
　　
　　Sabat　stood　and　stared；　was　suddenly　aware　of　being　joined　by　Kent；　heard　the　latter's　intake　of　breath　and　a　muttered　'Jesus　Christ！'　They　saw　the　old　woman　clearly　as　the　silvery…grey　beams　of　smoke…filtered　moonlight　shone　on　her。　A　pathetic；　sorry　figure；　Sabat　reflected。　Wasted；　as　though　a　skeleton　had　been　exhumed　with　strips　of　decaying　flesh　still　clinging　to　the　dead　bones。　The　rotting　clothing　appeared　to　have　torn　and　shredded　still　further　in　the　chase　so　that　the　figure　beneath　was　displayed　in　its　full　obscenity；　a　nauseating　nakedness　that　made　the　two　men　wish　that　they　did　not　have　to　look。
　　
　　Her　voice　was　a　low　moan；　a　prayer　or　plea　to　some　unknown　deity　as　she　stood　atop　the　burning　heap；　calling　for　help　in　her　hour　of　desperate　need。　The　atmosphere　seemed　to　e　alive　as　though　pending　an　electric　storm。　Sabat　was　aware　of　the　static；　the　way　his　flesh　goose　pimpled；　clammy　fingers　touching　him　again。　He　reacted　instantly；　saw　the　situation　for　what　it　was；　a　threat　to　their　lives　and　their　souls。　His　hand　delved　into　the　pocket　of　his　corduroy　jacket；　fingers　closing　over　that　tiny　silver　crucifix。　It　snagged　on　a　thread；　got　caught。　Oh　God；　the　forces　of　darkness　were　working　on　him　already；　obstructing　him。　Even　Kent　was　holding　on　to　him。　With　a　determined　effort；　calling　upon　every　last　physical　and　mental　reserve；　Sabat　pushed　his　panion　away　and　at　the　same　time　dragged　the　small　cross　clear　of　his　pocket。　It　seemed　to　have　grown　heavy　these　last　few　seconds；　several　pounds　in　weight　that　required　a　deliberate　effort　to　raise　above　his　head。　Even　as　he　managed　it　the　smoke　came　at　him　with　full　force；　a　blinding；　suffocating　mass　that　almost　had　him　staggering　back。　No　longer　could　he　see　that　fearsome　creature　on　the　smouldering　peat。　He　didn't　even　know　if　she　was　still　there。
　　
　　Sabat's　arm　went　back；　shot　forward　with　full　force。　Many　times　had　he　lobbed　dummy　grenades　in　SAS　training　exercises　under　similar　conditions；　running　the　gauntlet　of　smoke　bombs　and　tear　gas。　Now；　that　training　was　repaying　him。　He　sensed　that　he　was　on　target　even　before　the　unearthly　scream　rang　out；　threw　himself　flat　as　the　sky　above　zig…zagged　with　forked　lightning。　Self…preservation；　he　did　not　even　think　about　Kent；　for　the　other　had　undergone　the　same　training　and　it　was　up　to　him　to　act　likewise。　You　threw　yourself　to　the　ground　and　kept　down；　and　if　you　were　religious　you　prayed　to　God。　If　not；　you　trusted　to　luck。
　　
　　The　smoke　thickened；　a　rancid　smell　and　cloying　taste　which　reminded　Sabat　of　that　oven　which　had　once　cooked　living　human　flesh。*　Finally　it　thinned　and　only　then　did　he　raise　his　head；　squinting　through　half…closed　eyes。
　　
　　The　moon　was　shining　again　and　displaying　a　three…feet　high　rectangle　of　blackened　squares　of　turf；　charred　and　smelling　evilly。　But　there　was　no　sign　of　she　who　had　made　her　last　stand　on　its　summit。
　　
　　'What　happened？'　A　dishevelled　Kent　was　on　his　knees　a　few　yards　away；　staring　in　bewilderment。
　　
　　'My　power　was　greater　than　hers；'　Sabat　smiled　wanly；　'or　theirs；　at　this　given　time。　What　you　see　there　is　a　sacrificial　turf　altar　of　the　ancient　Oke　Priests。　Doubtless　we　shall　learn　in　due　course　that　a　supply　of　turf　had　been　delivered　for　replacing　part　of　the　church　lawns　but　take　it　from　me；　Kent；　it　was　brought　here　for　a　very　different　reason。　You　heard　what　she　said　about　the　Lupercal　Cave？　Well；　that　was　a　temple　used　by　the　druids　not　far　from　Rome　where　dogs　and　goats；　and　sometimes　humans；　were　sacrificed。　That　woman　intended　to　do　that　to　us。　Without　her　altar；　her　power　was　limited。　She　had　to　get　back　to　it　before　we　caught　her。　We　almost　left　it　too　late。　Fortunately　I　was　on　target　when　I　threw　the　crucifix；　otherwise　I　guess　that　would　have　been　the　end　for　us。'
　　
　　'You're　convincing　me　fast；'　Kent　was　visibly　shaken。　'But　。　。　。　that　scream　we　heard；　the　one　which　brought　us　here。　。　。　。　'
　　
　　'My　God；　yes；'　Sabat　tensed　and　stared　about　him。　'I'd　almost　forgotten。　That　certainly　wasn't　our　druid　witch；　unless　of　course　she　was　deliberately　luring　us　here。　There　must　be　somebody　else　here　who　has　alread